Plum golfer Shelby Shumaker set to compete at Pebble Beach

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, September 11, 2017 | 11:00 PM

Two years ago this month, Shelby Shumaker traveled to the Pebble Beach Golf Course in California to support older sister Samantha who played in the Nature Valley First Tee Open.

The event, a stop on the Champions Tour schedule, brought together 80 junior golfers in the national First Tee program from all over the country and many of the top senior golfers for several days of competition.

Now, it's Shelby's turn to show her golfing talents on one of the world's most venerable courses.

The Plum senior, a leading player on the Plum High School golf team, will take part in the newly named PURE Insurance Championship from Tuesday to Sept. 24 at Pebble Beach.

“It will be exciting to play the course and meet new people,” Shelby Shumaker said. “I've been practicing a lot for it. I know it will be a great experience.”

The tournament may have a new name, but the format stays the same.

The Champions Tour players will golf in one tournament, while the group of junior golfers will also have their own competition.

A junior golfer also will be paired up with a Champions Tour player, and their combined efforts will be scored against the other pairings in a third set of standings.

“Samantha said it was a lot of fun to play on that famous course, and it was a great experience for her overall,” Shelby said. “She didn't play as well as she wanted to, but it was something she will never forget, playing with a professional.”

Shelby will find out which pro she will be playing with at a banquet before the start of tournament play.

“I don't care who the pro is, I am just excited to be able to play with them,” she said.

Each junior participant is involved in chapters of The First Tee from all over the country.

Shelby is the only golfer from Pittsburgh this year.

“It is a very selective process,” she said.

Eligibility requirements include a qualifying golf handicap, a quality on-course resume, level of experience within the program, completion of a chapter participation survey and chapter interview form and the quality of a written essay.

How a golfer conducts themselves off the course — academically and in community service — also is taken into consideration.

Information gained helps the organization best match the First Tee golfer with one of the golfers from the Champions Tour.

“Samantha set some high standards for not only the chapter but also her family and community,” said Eric Amato, a coach with The First Tee of Pittsburgh.

“Shelby has created her own path and done some special things unique to her. It's icing on the cake to be selected. Samantha can go out and support Shelby the way Shelby did for Sam a couple of years ago.”

More than 180 junior golfers applied to be a part of this year's tournament.

“This really opens their eyes to experiences and opportunities they never thought they would have,” said Marc Field, executive director of The First Tee of Pittsburgh.

“It's like dropping a stone in a pond and watching positive ripples emanate from it.”

There is no set quota of boys or girls picked to participate.

“It comes down to whoever they feel is qualified,” Shelby said. “They could pick 50 girls and two boys. They most deserving, they said, are selected. If they did something like (a quota), someone deserving could be left out.”

Shelby will be away from her Plum teammates for a couple of practices and matches. She will miss the WPIAL girls individual section qualifier set for Sept. 20.

“I did WPIALs last year, and I didn't do well,” she said. “I had fun, but I wasn't able to advance. I've improved, but our section is very tough. You have to shoot in the low to mid 70s. Pebble Beach is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Champion Tour players set to compete in the PURE Insurance Championship include World Golf Hall of Fame members Tom Watson and Colin Montgomerie, as well as three-time tournament winner Jeff Sluman and defending champion Paul Broadhurst.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Plum